Russian, Ukrainian delegations begin 3rd round of talks
Russia and Ukraine intend to discuss political, humanitarian, and military issues during the talks, says a Russian Presidential aide.
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Russian and Ukrainian delegations have started the third round of talks in Russia’s Embassy in Belarus.
The Russian Embassy in Belarus stated that talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials on the Ukraine crisis had begun on the Belarus-Poland border.
The Russian delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, a Russian presidential aide, as well as Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov, and Leonid Slutsky, the chair of the Russian lower chamber's international affairs committee.
On its part, the Ukrainian delegation includes Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the Ukrainian presidential office, Davyd Arakhamia, head of the ruling Servant of the People party faction in the Ukrainian Parliament, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, and other Ukrainian politicians.
Belarusian news agency Belta shared a photo of the Russian and Ukrainian representatives on Telegram, saying the talks would focus on "humanitarian corridors to evacuate" Ukraine's civilian population.
Earlier, Sputnik reported that helicopters delivered members of the Ukrainian delegation to the location of negotiations with Russia in the Brest region of Belarus.
The Ukrainian delegation arrived in two helicopters and landed not far from where the negotiations began.
On his account, Belarusian political scientist Yury Voskresensky revealed that the third round of talks would take place at 3 pm at the Hunter's House, where the second round was held.
Before the talks, Medinsky stressed that Russia and Ukraine intend to discuss political, humanitarian, and military issues during the talks.
He also told reporters that "all the same issues will be discussed: three blocks of issues — the issue of internal political settlement, international humanitarian aspects and issues of military settlement".
Russia will try again today to discuss with Ukraine the organization of humanitarian corridors, Medinsky added.
"We will try again today with the Ukrainian side to discuss the mode of operation of humanitarian corridors since in all the cities in which we promised, these corridors are open from the side of our army and the armed forces of Donbas, the fire has ceased," he concluded.
After the talks were wrapped up for the day, a member of the Russian delegation said that Russia is ready to hold the 4th round of talks with Ukraine in the very near future.
